It was a hot one!

So...to all the people who told me D.C. summers were mild...you are all crazy! It has been HOT and HUMID! Today it was in the high 90's, humid and miserable! And...to top it off, our air conditioner is broken...NOT FUN!!! We waited around ALL day for the repair man...who never showed up!!!
We played outside on our patio in the pool most of the day...it was actually cooler out back, than in the house! Mady pampered me to a wonderful pedicure...I loved it...thanks, Mady Mad!


Flying high...check out my toes...ooh la la!!

Mail from Jake and Abigail

The kids were elated to get letters from Jake and Abigail today!

Cooking Class

Tonight as the kids ate a bowl of ice cream for dessert, I joined them with my dinner...a bowl of cereal. Mady looked up at me with only a face Mady can make and said "CEREAL for DINNER?!!!!" "Yes Mady, I wanted something quick and easy" I said. Meanwhile Peter was in the kitchen whipping himself up some dinner. She turned around and looked at him, then back up me...(O.K...so this is rare in our house). Then she said "Daddy you should take a cooking class and cook more!" That was so funny we all cracked up laughing!! Then Zach said "I want to take an eating class!" Too Funny!

Catch the Reading Bug

Our public library has a fabulous summer reading program "Catch the Reading Bug" that the kids have been participating in. For every six books they read/are read they turn in their form and get a prize! WOW! At the beginning of the summer Mady made this board and we hung it up so she could fill it in every time she finishes a new book! Today we headed up to the library so they could turn in their forms! Zach choice an airplane and and stencil . Mady a butterfly tattoo and a rubber caterpillar.

Orioles Game

Today we drove to Baltimore...about a 40 min drive from our house. We spent some time at the Inner Harbor...the kids enjoyed all the ships, boats, water taxis, pedal boats, submarine, sites and activities on the harbor. After lunch off we went to Camden Yards, home of the Orioles! It was a great game... After the game I wanted to see John's Hopkins Hospital...Hopkins is my favorite reality show at the moment(perhaps I would see one the famous Dr's...didn't happen...maybe next time) It is a huge facility...would be a cool place to work...maybe someday! We had a wonderful weekend!

Bye, Bye Grandma & Grandpa

Our visit with Grandma and Grandpa came to an end today...off to Florida they went. Mady and Zach had so much fun with them!! After they left we headed out...found a Chick-fil-A close to our house...we are so excited!!! No more driving out to the mall for our yummy chicken fix! After lunch we took Mady shopping to pick out a few new outfits for school, then we headed home! Zach and Daddy chilled out and watched the Yankees play, while I attempted to recreate the delicious Philly cheese steaks we had a few weeks ago...they were by no means King of Pat's...but they were pretty yummo...along with my homemade french fries...tasty! Tonight, after Zach went to bed, Mommy, Daddy and Madyson watched Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus...Best of Both Worlds 3-D concert! We sang and danced and had such fun with Mady!

Fun with Grandma & Grandpa

We were so happy to have our special visitors here today! We spent the morning playing at home, then headed out for the day! We look Grandma and Grandpa to Friendship Heights. We ate lunch at Booeymonger...the kids prefer to call it "BooggerMonger"...oh so funny! Then we took Grandpa shopping to use his gift card at Borders! After spending the afternoon in Friendship heights we took them on a car tour of the D.C. sites...so much has changed since they lived here. It wasn't the famous double decker tour of D.C....but fun no less! Then we came home and played! Mady and Grandma had a great time together...here are some of their masterpieces!

Happy Belated Birthday Grandma and Grandpa

This morning I told the kids Grandma and Grandpa were coming to visit on their drive back to Florida from New York. Mady immediately asked if we could have a surprise B-day party since their birthday's were a few weeks ago and we didn't go to their party(she thinks everyone has B-day parties...as they should...) Of Course we can...and so the planning began!

Mady asked if we could make my homemade Lasagna...and bake a chocolate cake! Great idea...she loves planning and hosting as much as I do!

Where are their presents she asked...of course ... presents! Off to shop...they each picked gifts...Zach for Grandpa, he loves to read so a Borders gift card and he choose a new book mark for him...it has a picture of D.C.. Mady chose a teal shirt for her grandma..."she'll love it mom!" she exclaimed...Mady also managed to sneak in a shirt for herself...so Mady!!

"We have to decorate, Mom! So balloons and sunflowers were purchased! Mady and Zach helped with everything they were so excited!

They yelled "surprise" when they arrived! We had a wonderful evening!!


Mady and Zach decorated the cake!

We love you Grandma and Grandpa!
Silly Mady and Daddy

Mail from Papa Pete

The kids were so excited when the mail came today...they got a letter from Papa!

Great Grandma Lewchanin

With much sadness in our hearts this weekend we headed up to New York to say goodbye for now to a very special person, Great Grandma Lewchanin.

One evening Karen and I were working on putting together a memory board, we had a wonderful time looking at all the pictures and remembering her life. We even laughed a little. As we put her memories together to share with everyone the next day, Mady said she wanted to make her Great Grandma a board...and so she did...she drew her pictures and decorated a beautiful masterpiece...it was her gift to her Great Grandma! She left it for her at the grave.

The next day as we left the cemetery..Zach asked me if he could see his Grandma one more time...I explained that he couldn't...he replied with..."Yes we can, we can dig a hole and go underground and see her"... If Only.....

We went to visit Grandma's house one last time...Mady and Zach got to see where their Grandpa grew up and where Peter would visit his Grandparents...the kids each got to take something special from the house...some great memories were made and remembered in that home...

Although we wished it was under other circumstances, we did get to visit some family we hadn't seen in a long time...Peter's cousin Becky and her husband Jake came over with Luke to Aunt Cathy and Uncle Mikes. Luke is 2 months younger than Mady and they haven't seen each other in 5 yrs! They had a blast playing...Mady can't wait for Luke to come to her house!

Zach learned that Luke's Daddy, Jake, is a fireman!! Before Jake got there I said "Zach do you know what Lukes daddy does at work? He is a fireman" He looked at us with this very serious face and said "A REAL fireman!!!" He keep calling him "That Fireman" all evening! Zach has a new Hero!

We will miss you Grandma...

Pool Day

Today I packed the kids up and headed off to the Bethesda pool! The pool was great...the kids swam, played and had a blast! It was so much fun...man I miss our neighborhood pool! There are 4 pools so we made our rounds to each one...then I heard the whistle..."yes", I thought, "adult swim...there is a God...finally a break"...but no...you can go into the kiddy pool during adult swim...NO BREAK for mom!

I sat at the edge of the kiddy pool, smiling, watching my precious little ones play nicely, as did all the other mommies! They found some cups and began to play with some other kids. Zach yelled over to me that HE was going to make me something...oh how sweet I thought, he is make ME something to drink! He came over and handed me a cup..."Thank you so much Zach, is this tea for mommy?"...as he walked away he yelled "No...mommy it's beer...you drink beer...not tea" Nice...

Tonight we had a great time! I cooked a yummy dinner for my favorite people...Zach and Daddy sat together in our over sized chair watching baseball, and Mady was either helping me or with her Daddy and Zach...I heard lots of giggling coming from the living room! That is the best...

Here is Mady serving her daddy his beer...I guess Zach was right!

What is the secret to raising appreciative, non-spoiled kids? Who knows? In an attempt to accomplish this...in our house the kids get toys on Birthday's, Christmas, occasionally from Grandparents and very very rarely from us. Peter(mostly his idea) and I want them to appreciate the things they get...so it's one way we are trying to get that point across.

Well today I had to bring them with me to a Dr's appointment...so they got "THE TALK".... I expected them to be on their BEST behavior(yes, I also threw a bribe in)! They were so good... the ultrasound tech and doctor even commented on how well behaved and what good manners they had... Zach of course had a million questions while they did my ultrasound, but would always start his question with"scusss me mommy...why...". Zach talks from the moment he wakes up until the the moment he falls asleep...seriously...somedays it's exhausting......he is full of questions...and many times I fall short of a good answer for him...I should write a book..."Mommies guide to answers at...the park..., zoo, grocery store, about repair men, garbage men, homeless people,...........WHY...WHY...WHY!!!

So after the appt...we went to Starbucks...yummy breakfast! That was mostly my treat!!

Then yes to the toy store...(part of the bribe)...Zach made his choice in less than 1 min...a firetruck...surprise surprise!! Then we waited for Miss Mady...and waited and waited! One hour later...YES..one hour!!!! She finally made her choice...

After returning home and playing with the new toys for a while...fun, fun, fun...we were off to do some errands...

I was trying to be quick...surely they wanted to be home with their new toys...

As I turned around to make sure my little ones were walking closely behind me this is what I saw ...

yes that is cat litter...scoopable cat litter..who knew you could buy it by the lb...can I tell you how much fun they had in that bin...lots! Then it was onto watching a gerbil run around, and around, and around... They also loved the dog treat snack bar...oh the choices dogs have...! The kids wanted to buy Tana...my best friends dog in Atlanta some treats...they keep saying "Tana would love these...she really would, can we please buy her some" After spending almost an hour in the pet store I was ready to leave! But not them...they loved that store! We will be back...

See...who needs toys when you can play with cat litter!!!

Turtle Park

D.C. has some fabulous parks...today we visited one of the kids favorite ones...turtle park

We even saw a Black squirrel...never seen one before moving here...didn't know they existed...they creep me out...

Happy Birthday Papa Pete!

Today is my Dad's Birthday!! Wish I was with him, but Helen and her gang is...and I know they are having fun!! Mady and Zach love their Papa Pete!! We love you and miss you! I love you Dad...thanks for being a wonderful Dad and Papa!

Mady is registered for Kindergarten!

Mady was missing her best friend Jake...today she wrote him, Abigail, and Hannah letters and we walked to the mailbox to mail them! Here in D.C. our mail is delivered to us through the mail slot in our front door...the kids get a kick out of it everyday when they hear it hitting the hardwood floor! So when we mail anything we either walk to the corner mailbox or up to the post office! She loves mailing her friends anything!!

Zach was more interested in the stick he found on our walk there...and turning over rocks...cuz if he is lucky there is a worm or some other creature under it...

Later in the day we walked over to Madyson's school and registered her for Kindergarten!!! My baby is starting school...so hard to believe...she is growing up way too fast!! She was excited about today...hope she is when school starts!! Her school is right across the street from our house...so she will walk to school! How cool!! Today was a good day!

Rice Krispy Treats

Today Mady asked if we could bake something...she is my child!! Ya'll know I love to bake and cook and it's so much more fun with her! She with the help of Zach and very little help from Mom did a great job! They were yummy! Although, it confirms my fear of eating others peoples food...if you could see the fingers that were licked then reinserted...you would too! That's why if I ever make anything for anyone I reassure you I made it...I won't let little ones help!

Weekend in Philadelphia

This weekend we went to Philadelphia! One of the perks of living in D.C., is that we can drive to so many cool places for a quick weekend trip! Peter loves baseball and wants to see as many games and stadiums as he can fit in this summer! Zach absolutely loves doing this with his Daddy! Saturday was a busy day...among some of our stops we saw the Liberty Bell, Ben Franklin's final resting place, Independence Square, The Philadelphia Art Museum! Then on Sunday we went to the Phillies game! Although they played the Diamondbacks(and we used to live in AZ) we cheered the Phillies on(sorry Lorraine)! Zach, Mady and Peter got new hats...part of the summer stadium tour traditions! My favorite part of the weekend was the two phili cheese steaks we had...one from Geno's and one from Pat's! Oh my gosh...they were so freaking good! And watching my two favorite guy's watch the game...the ice cold beers were good too!!!

"I can fix it for you!"

After a long day with the kids...I am trying to make dinner! I love to cook...but hate this daily chore of trying to make a healthy homemade meal for my family while the kids are driving me crazy! Is it too much to ask for them to play nicely while Mommy cooks...I guess so!!



So after a day of whining and complaining, whining and complaining...fighting...whinning and complaining, whining and comlaining...fighting! Did I tell you they whined, complained and fought today? I was upstairs cooking and I heard Zach screaming from the basement..then the screams got louder and he was on his way to find me, he began to explained that he dropped his fireman hat and it broke!!!! Ya'll know how in love with anything firefighter Zach is... He wanted me to FIX IT NOW!!! Well I had no patience left in me..I told him I couldn't...we had to throw it out...it was broke and he could cut himself with it and really get hurt! He was NOT happy...



Then I heard him explain his situation to Mady...I heard her say "It's o.k . Zach, I can fix it for you" She loves him!!!

4th of July 2008

This year we spent the 4th of July at the beach! We went to the Outerbanks of N.C. , it was beautiful there! Mady and Zach loved the trip! We spent most of our time at the beach, but did venture out one afternoon to see a lighthouse and the huge sand dunes...running down those was a blast...untill I fell...NOT fun...but was so funny!! We all loved the fireworks...is there a better place to watch fireworks? NO!!! The seafood was so yummo!! We can't wait for our next visit!!